Chime in: What's the best Windows tablet for a non-techie?
iPads are popular Christmas gifts, combining high-quality design with a simplistic iOS-based user experience. But what about Windows tablets?
Surface tablets are gorgeous and powerful, but you typically want to get a keyboard and a stylus to get the most out of them, and even then, not everybody is a creative type who needs the full power of inking. They're also expensive.
For casual tablet-style computing, Windows 10 Mobile would have been an ideal OS for such devices, but alas, we all know what happened there. Windows 10 S is still in its infancy, and ARM-based Windows PCs haven't yet evolved into products that might rival iPads for casual use.
At least while we wait for the near-mythical "Surface Phone" foldable device to emerge from obscurity, what Windows tablets, if any, do you think are worth recommending? Forum user kdk24z wants to know.
For me, the biggest stop gap for a "casual" Windows tablet experience is the Microsoft Store itself, which is pretty terrible when it comes to a variety of touch-optimized apps. Full Win32 gives you the option of installing games from Steam, some of which support touch, like Civilization, but you'll probably end up spending a lot to get decent performance from these sorts of games.
We have a roundup of devices we consider to be the best tablets out there for now, but 2018 and beyond should prove more exciting, as Windows 10 for ARM comes into its own. Hit the link below and share your thoughts.
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Jez Corden is the Executive Editor at Windows Central, focusing primarily on all things Xbox and gaming. Jez is known for breaking exclusive news and analysis as relates to the Microsoft ecosystem while being powered by tea. Follow on Twitter (X) and Threads, and listen to his XB2 Podcast, all about, you guessed it, Xbox!